There are many returning characters from the Final Fantasy VII series so far, including the main character from Final Fantasy VII, Cloud Strife. The main villain, Sephiroth
returns, this time during his time in SOLDIER, and we also see the
majority of the other playable characters from the original game,
namely Aerith Gainsborough, Tifa Lockhart, Yuffie Kisaragi, Cait Sith, along with members of the Turks also seen in the original, Tseng, Reno and Rude. The Turk with the shuriken from Before Crisis, Cissnei,[7] returns in Crisis Core (her weapon is called Rekka)
The central character in Crisis Core is Zack Fair, the SOLDIER member known from Cloud’s past in the original game, and Professor Hojo and Jenova are also present. Many characters known from Dirge of Cerberus are also present, and so other returning characters include Weiss, Nero, Genesis Rhapsodos.
Story
At that time, the SOLDIER Mass Disappearance Incident occurred when, during combat operations in Wutai, Genesis,
a first class member of SOLDIER, went missing without a trace along
with many other SOLDIERs. The Shinra Company’s top management assessed
the situation and decided to send out SOLDIER in order to bring an end
to the war and clarify the scandal, and so, Angeal and Zack, as well as
Sephiroth, whose name would come to be known throughout the world as a hero, were dispatched to Wutai.
During the duration of the game, events similar to Last Order: Final Fantasy VII
take place, as well as Zack meeting Aerith, becoming best friends with
Cloud, Zack discovering the truth about both Angeal and Genesis’
origins, The truth behind the mysterious "Project ‘G’", Sephiroth’s
hatred of the Shinra company beginning, and many other events. There
are also scenes in Crisis Core of Zack that Cloud had as flashbacks in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children and Final Fantasy VII.
At the end of the game, Cloud and Zack reach the Wastelands near
Midgar, after escaping Shinra. However, Zack is shot by the pursuing
Shinra soldiers while Cloud is left unharmed because of his vegetative
state. Aerith is seen waiting at her church, praying for Zack.
After some time Cloud snaps out of his rigid state and heads towards
Zack. When Cloud reaches Zack, Zack (while giving Cloud his Buster
Sword) tells Cloud to take all his pride and dreams for him and
continue living, and then finally dies. Cloud cries out in anguish.
After his brief mourning, Cloud says his thanks to Zack and tells him
to rest. Zack talks aside that he is finally a hero, while the scene
goes to Cloud who is carrying the Buster Sword and making his way
towards Midgar.
After the credits roll, the introduction to Final Fantasy VII
plays. Aerith is seen exiting a building into the streets of Midgar,
while Cloud (who is not too far from her) rides on top of a train
stating, "I am Cloud. SOLDIER. First Class." marking the beginning of
the original game, Final Fantasy VII. The game ends with the words, "To be continued in Final Fantasy VII…"
